School Staffing.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2004

Tuesday, 5 October 2004

Ceisteanna (226, 227)

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

345 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a post primary school (details supplied) in County Limerick, even though it is significantly over staff quota, cannot match subject demand to teacher qualifications and that while it has four woodwork teachers, it has no French teacher, and has a shortage of teachers in maths, English and religion; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the school has received no curricular concessions from her Department for 2004-05, that it has a very high proportion of pupils with special needs and that despite 190 special needs hours having been allocated to the school, 156 of these have been used to fill gaps in the timetable; if, in consultation with the board of management and the principal of the school, a special programme will be set up to meet the variety of needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23582/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

Teacher allocations to second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Each school management authority is required to organise its teaching timetable and subject options having regard to pupils needs within the limit of its approved teacher allocation.

The rules for allocating teaching resources provide that where a school management authority is unable to meet its curricular commitments within its approved allocation, my Department will consider applications for additional short term support.

The school concerned applied for curricular concessions for the 2004-05 school year and following consideration of the application, the Department granted 3.26 wholetime equivalent supernumerary posts. In addition, the school has been allocated 5.78 wholetime equivalent posts to cater for the special educational needs of pupils enrolled and .34 wholetime equivalent posts to cater for Traveller pupils enrolled.

An independent appeals committee is available to school authorities that wish to appeal the adequacy of their allocations from my Department. This committee comprises three members with relevant experience and expertise in the area of school planning and timetabling. The school in question appealed to this committee and was granted a further wholetime equivalent post. Decisions of the appeals committee are final.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

346 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teaching staff in 1998 and in 2003 at second level, distinguishing by type of school and at third level, distinguishing universities and institutes of technology. [23584/04]

Minister for Education and Science (Ms Hanafin)

The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled by my Department at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.